The Transport Ministry rejects calls to delay full enforcement of overload laws, citing high fatality rates and widespread non-compliance among heavy vehicles.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has rejected calls to postpone the full enforcement of laws against overloaded heavy vehicles, stating it is not a safe option.
Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah cited alarming accident statistics, with 346 fatalities recorded in 2024 involving lorries and buses.
He said police data shows 260 fatalities from January to September this year, comprising 211 cases involving lorries and 49 involving buses.
“These numbers demonstrate that safety issues involving heavy vehicles are not trivial and require firm and consistent immediate action,” he said during the Dewan Negara sitting.
The ministry acknowledges calls from industry for a six-month to one-year postponement or phased implementation to allow operators time to adjust.
However, enforcement data from the ‘Op Perang Lebih Muatan’ operation revealed widespread non-compliance.
A total of 3,087 out of 129,778 heavy vehicles inspected were found to be overloaded, with 5,915 notices issued for various offences.
Technical findings from JPJ and MIROS show overloaded commercial vehicles face high risks of brake failure and instability on downhill stretches.
Overloading also contributes significantly to road and bridge damage.
In a separate winding-up speech, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said Malaysia’s rice supply remains sufficient.
Physical stock stood at 1.263 million metric tonnes as of December 2, comprising 1.063 million metric tonnes of trade stock and 200,000 metric tonnes of buffer stock.
He said Malaysia will continue to diversify import sources from Vietnam, Thailand, Pakistan, India and Myanmar to ensure supply stability.
On technical education, Arthur said the ministry’s agriculture-focused TVET programmes are now conducted in 16 training institutes nationwide.
The upgraded syllabus incorporates modern technologies like automation, IoT, drones and AI, developed in collaboration with industry and academia.
A Special Competency Certification for agricultural drone operators has also been introduced with lower costs and shorter training periods.
The ministry has established the Smart Agriculture Directory (DirekTANI) as a platform for matching expertise with career opportunities for youth.
Also winding up the debate were Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Mohamad Alamin and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
The Dewan Negara sitting resumes tomorrow.
